An Investigation of the Relationship between Spiritual-Religious Well-Being and Mental Health in Students

Background and Objectives: Religious and spiritual components play an important role in well-being and health of people, and their evaluation seems to be necessary. The present study was carried out to determine the correlation between different domains of religious-spiritual well-being and mental health in the students of Qom University of Medical Sciences as well as the predictive power of different domains of religion and spirituality for students&rsquo; health level. Methods: The present study was carried out as a descriptive-correlational study on 158 students of Qom University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Samples were selected using random sampling method. The research data were collected by Multidimensional Inventory for religious-spiritual well-being and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and regression analysis. Results: The means of religious-spiritual well-being and mental health variables in the students were 24.63&plusmn;2.07 and 12.62&plusmn;6.39. There was a significant correlation between religious-spiritual well-being and mental health (p<0.05). Among the variables entered in the regression model, hope for the future, religiosity, and age had significant effect on mental health. Conclusion: The findings indicated that hope for the future and religiosity were, respectively, the most important religious-spiritual components, helping to improve mental health in students

The Relationship between Religious-Spiritual Well-Being and Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in University Students

Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between dimensions of religious and spiritual wellbeing, stress, anxiety, and depression in students of Qom University of Medical Sciences and as well as to access the predictability of stress, anxiety, and depression from the levels of religious-spiritual dimension in students. Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study, 138 students in Qom University of Medical Sciences were selected via random sampling method. Theycompleted the MI RSWB- 48, Depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed by SPSS Ver.16 ,utilizing descriptive statistics and the statistical tests of Independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Results: Religious-spiritual wellbeing was correlated with depression, anxiety and stress (p<0.05). The results of multiple liner regression showed that hope predicted stress, anxiety, and depression after controlling demographic variables. In addition, general religiosity was associated with depression. Conclusion: The findings indicated that immanent hope and general religiosity were, respectively, the most important religious-spiritual components which may affect psychological distress in students